Improvement in machines for setting button or lacing hooks



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

H. O. BRADFORD. SETTING BUTTON 0R LAOING HOOK.

110.104.257 Patented June 14., 1870.

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2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

H. 0. BRADFORD. SETTING BUTTON QR LAGING HOOK. Pa tented June 14. 18"70.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIoE.

HORACE U. BRADFORD, OF II'KH'IDENPE, .Rl-IODE ISLANI ASSIGNOR ()l (U E-Alli: HTS RIGHT TO H. X. FENNE l.

lMPROVE-MEN T lNv MACHINES FOR SETTING BUTTON 0R LACING HOOKS.

slfll'lilt'illi ll forming part of Letters Patent .\'o. 10 1 257, ll:|ie|l .lune H. 1 71 To all whom it may concern:

ie-it known that I, HORACE (3. BRADFORD, of the city and county of Providence, in the Stateof Rhode Island, have invented a certain new and useful Machine for Setting But-ton or Lacing Hooks.

My invention consists of certain novel devices and combinations of mechanism by means of which such button or lacing hooks as are described by Villiam H. Shurtleit in his Letters Patent of June 5, 1866, are automatically set and secured into leather, cloth, or other fabric in connection with which they are to be used; ,and 1 do hereby declare that the following specification, taken in connection with the drawin g furnished a nd forming a part of the same, is a true, elea r, and exact description thereof.

' Two sheets of drawing are numbered, respeetively,

it i gure 1 represents a perspective front view Slice? 2.

Fig. 4 represents the same as Fig. .1, Sheet 1, in rear perspective, Fig. 5 represents the same, in cross-vertical section on line'a- I), Fig. 4. Fig. 6 represents a buttonliook.

My machine may properly be divided into four general combinations of mechanism, as follows: First, that combination of devices which separates the single hook from a. mass of hooks and delivers itin a certain essential position to certain conveying mechanism; secoinLtha-t combination which conveys the hook while retained in a certain position, and delivers the same to certain presenting mechanism 3 third, that which presents the hooks in proper position to -the action of forcing and clinching mechanism; fourth, that combination of de vices by which the prongs of thehooks are forced through the fabric and then turned in ward .and clinched. 'llhese several combinations and their mode of operation will be separa-tel y described is the main shaft of ihemaehine, to which is fitted to slide vertically in grooves cut in the inside of the ends of the hopper, while its lower end slides freely through a slotin tbQb'OiJtOlH.

1) is afriction-pulley, mounted upon a screwshank set in the lower end of the separator and is capable of vertical adjustment.

E is a rotary cam, mounted on a stud below the hopper. Its periphery engages with the pulley I), and by each revolution it causes the separator C to raise upward through'the hopper. After being thus elevated, it descends by its own gravityas thecain continues to revolve, until, having arrived at the lowest point of depression, the bearing-surface of the edge of the cam again engages with the pulley and repeats the movement. Motion is imparted to this cam by means of a belt-etmnection with the main shaft.

F represents a vertical eonnectingra-il, extending from the lower edge of the separator (l to the assorter. G is the swinging. assorter. It consists of a thin strip of. sheet metal, corresponding in character with the upper edge of separator C and connecting-rail F. It is -pivoted to suitable bearings at the lower edge of each of its ends, so that it will freely swing on the pivots from a perpendicular to a horizontal position and back again. V

H represents a horizontal slide, having suitable bearings projecting from and secured to the sides of the hopper.v This slide has a. vertical arm, 0, provided at its upper-endwith. two sup: plemental arms, 41. vided with a. screw pin or finger, 0, set at right angles to the vertical arm c and parallel. with the slide. The face of this slide has an, angle lar slot cutthcrein. A'pimj', set in "the edge of the separator (l, and extending through a vertical. slot in. the end of the hopper, engages with the angular slot in the slide II in such a- I manner that the slide is moved to the front as the separator C ascends, and to the rear as the. separator descends.

I represents a vertical levcr ioinied at i ts Each of these latter is pr.

2 roars? upper end to the lower edge of the swinging spring, which sustains its weight. The screwpins 6 in arms (I engage loosely with the upper end of this lever, so that a lateral movement of the slide H will produce avibratory movement of the lever and'caus'e the assorter G to swing on its pivotsl J is the ground-rail of -the chute. side rail.

Having thus described in detail the devices generally constituting the combination of sep- K is the arating mechanism, I will now proceed to describe the operation.

The button-hooks in mass are poured into the hopper B. By the revolution of the main shaft and cam E the separator O is caused to move upward through the mass of hooks, and in its passage to gather upon its vertical edge hooks in various positions, I some with their necks upon the edge-with prongs to the rear, and others with prongs to the front.

Occasionally the separator will raise hooks upon its edge, having one prong on one side thereof and two on the other, and vice versa. This latter result, however, seldom occurs, owing to the shortness of the prongs and their wide distance apart, which admits of but little security in holding them.

Should the hooks be picked upby the separator in any manner other than by their necks with prongs to the rear the assorter Gr throws them off, When properly gathered upon the separator they slide down its inclined edge over the connecting-rail F upon the edge of the swinging assorter G. Their progress is then arrested by a vertical stop-block, g. By the continued rotary movement of the main shaft and cam E the separator is permitted to fall by its gravity. By this downward movement of the separator the assorter G leaves the perpendicular and assumes a horizontal position, returning to the perpendicular with 7 its next upward movement.

When the assorter G, laden with one or more hooks, held in various ways, as described, is brought toa horizontal position, allvhooks sustained by their necks and-having their prongs pointing to'the rear of the machine "are caused to slide down the bottom rail, J of the chute, being held in position by the side rail, K. 'Allother hooks not thus held are thrown under the side rail, K, oppositethe swinging assorter, into a box which maybe placed'there. m

The distance between the edge of the assorter, when horizontal, and the inner edge of the side rail, K, is so great as to allow the side rail to engage only with those hooks whose prongs assume a vertical position as,

the assorter swings down, Such as'are properlytaken slide down tothe bottom of the chute, ready for delivery to the conveying mechanism, next described, as follows: L is an endless belt, having cross lugs or of the head of the button-hook.

projections on its under or inner side, and fingers h projecting at right angles thereto from its upper or outer side. This belt is mounted upon three pulleys, the peripheries of which are grooved laterallyto receive the lugs on the inner side of the belt. Two of the pulleys simply serve as drums or conductors, and their bearings are above the bed of the machine on a longitudinal line with each other.

The third pulley, i, is larger than the others,

and is mounted on a stud below the bed of the machine on a line with the two already described, and midway between them. Intermittent rotary motion is communicated to this pulley by means of a ratchet-wheel, pawl, and lever, actuated by cam 4 on main shaft, every full revolution of which revolves the pulley to the extent of one notch of the ratchet, and conveys the belt a distance equal to the space between the fingers h.

M is a horizontal railway, connecting the bottom or ground rail, J, and side rail, K, and is in fact an extension of the same. N is a steadying-arm, arranged to slide longitudinally to and fro intermittently upon the bot tom rail. At a point near the center of the machine the end of this armand the end of the side rail of M abut, so as to make the arm a continuation of the rail. Motion is communicated to this arm by means of a spring-lever, actuated by a cam, No. 5, on the main shaft, arranged so that at every revolution of the shaft a complete intermittent longitudinal movement of the steadying arm will be made.

0 is a pair of vertical holding-nippers. They are mounted upon a stud in the side of a slidebar, j, which is attached to aspring-lever, act nated by a cam, No. 6, on the main shaft, so set and arranged that at every revolution of the shaft a backward and forward movement israpidly efiected, the nippers remaining at a rest between each backward. and the next succeeding forward movement. The upper jaw of these nippers has an angular recess in its front edge, corresponding in part with the triangular position of the prongs of the buttonhook. The lower jaw is somewhat longer than the upper, and has at or near its end a circular cup-like recess, corresponding to the form The arms of these nippers have between. them an expansive spring, so set as to throw them apart, and in so doing to compress the jaws, which are fitted to seize the hooks and hold them firmly, with prongs in a vertical position.

1? represents a pair of vertical spring-jaws, the griping ends of which embrace and engage with at right angles the outer ends or arms of the nippers O. These spring-jaws are provided with arms, which, by being thrown apart, cause the jaws to compress the arms of the nippers O. A wedge-spring lever, -70, actnated by one face of the cam No. 5 onthc main shaft is so set and arranged as at the proper time once to each revolution of the. shaft, to force apart the arms of spring-jaw P,

which, by causing its jaws to compress the arms of nippers 0, results in releasing the hook from the jaws of the latter.

The devices constituting the conveying mechanism having been described in detail, its operation is described as follows: The railway at the bottom of the chute (the latter being charged with button-hooks with prongs in a vertical position) is so located in relation to the endless belt L that the fingers h engage with the heads of the hooks and slide them along by the intermittent'movement before described until they arrive, oneat a time, at apointopposite the nippers O. The side rail, K, extends only to the edge of the nippers 0, and the end of the steadying-arm N abuts against the end of the side rail, extending across the end of the nippers. lVhen the hook has been conveyed to this point it rests upon the bottom rail, and is held in position by the steady ing-arm N. The nippers 0 come forward, seize the hook from above and below, and simulta neously with the continued forward movement, the steadying-arm retires, opening a space through which the nippers O convey the hook,

and deliver it to holding clamps or jaws, hereafterto be described. The spring-jaws P then compress the handles of the nippers 0, cansin g their jaws to release the hook. Nippers 0 then retire to their original position, and await the arrival of another hook.

The next organism to be described is that by means ofwhich the button-hooks are taken from the nippers O, conveyed and presented to the forcing, turning, and clinching mechanlSnl.

Q represents in each case a pair of horizontal-acting spring-nippers, the jaws of which are slotted to receive the neck of the buttonhook. The armsof these nippers are provided. with an expansive spring, which serves to keep the jaws closed, except when the power of the spring is overcome by mechanism hereafter described.

It is a circular turn-table, which six of the nippers Q are mounted. They are placed on lines radiating from the center, with their jaws equidistantapart at the periphery of the table. The table is mounted 'upon a vertical shaft extending downward through the bed of the machine, and is supported by collar-bearings. At the lower end of this shaft and keyed thereto is a horizontal ratchet-drum, I, with which a spring-lever, m, on gages, which is actuated by cam No.4, (which also operates the endless belt,) which is so arranged with duplex levers as to cause the table to make onesixth of a revolution for every turn of the main shaft, and to allow of the table having a full rest during the time occupied by the main shaft in making five-'sixths of a revolution. S is a stop-rod, sliding horizontally and at right angles to the vertical turn-table shaft.

Immediately above the ratchet-drum 1,011 the lowerend of the turn-table shaft and secured thereto, is a collar having six recesses, corresupon the top of spondin g with the position of the several nippers, Q,on the turn-table. This stop-rod interinitten tly engages with these recesses. Its function is to securelyhold the turn-tablein position during the operation of forcing, turning, and clinching the prongs of the button-hooks, more fully described hereafter. This back movement in each revolution of the main shaft, (or one-sixth of a revolution of the turntable,) and remains at rest for the balance of each revolution of .the main shaft.

T in each case represents a pair of vertical wedge cams. prongs orwedges, narrow at their tops and increasing in width downward. The inner ends or arms of the nippers Q are eaehem braced within a pair of these cams. When the cams are depressed the jaws are closed, but when elevated the jaws are wide open. Each pair of these cams is attached to and forms a part of a platform, which is mounted upon a vertical spindle, n, which passes through the bed of the turn-table. This spindle is shouldered,-and-.is embraced by spiral springs, so set as to constantly'de5 press the cams by their expansive force, leavirig the springs in the nippers Q free to actin closing the jaws. Y l U is aholdilig-block, nearly semicircular in form, placed upon the bed' of the machine below the turn-table. Its round edge extends froma point near the center of the table in front toward the right, and terminates at a. corresponding point in the rear of the turntable. A verticaledge on a straight line extends from its periphery in front and rear toward its center. Its otiicc is, by the contact of its upper surface with the lower ends of the camspindle a, to maintain the cams in an elevated position during a little less than onehalf of the revolution of the turn-table, in. order that the nippers L may be presented with their jaws extended to thepoint opposite nipperst). v i 1 V in. each case represents a vertical springspindle, One of these is in front of the .turn table shaft, closely adjacent to the vertical edge of the holding-block U, on a line with the several spindles a in the turn-table. The otheris at a corresponding position in the rear. The tops of, both these spindles engage with the lower ends of the vertical cam-spindle 02, one by one, as the table revolves. The front spindle V, when elevated, raises the camspindle n, with which it may be engaged, to the level of the holding-block U, to which it is transferred by the movement of tlie'table. The rear spindle 'V, when elevated, is on a level with the surface of the molding-block U, and receives therefrom each cam-spindle was the table revolves, and sustains the same until acertain proper moment arrives, when itis I permitted to fall, depressing the cams T and permitting the jaws of nippers Qto close upon the hook after receiving it from nippers O.

stop-rod is operated by cam N o. 7 on the main shaft, and j is arranged to make one rapid forward and They consist of two vertical scribe their mode of operation;

V in each case represents a horizontal sliding rod. Both have on their upper edges an inclined plane, which engages with the lower ,ends, respectively, of the front and rear spindles,V. These slidingrods are connected atone in contact, raises the same, so that its lower end will be on a level with or slightly above the surface of the holding-block U, and holds it thus until, by the motion of the turn-table, it is-iconveyed to the upper face of the holding block. After being relieved from this duty the sliding rod recedes and the spindle V falls, as before.

The rear sliding rod has an inclined plane, like the onelast described, and is arranged to engage in the same manner with the rear ver- -tical spindle V, corresponding in general character with the front one. By its inclined plane it elevates this spindle to a point slightly below the level of the holding-block U, and it remains in that position until, by the movement of the turn-table,the lower end ofacamspindle, a, is placed upon its upper end, after which the sliding rod recedes and the spindle V descends, followed by the cam-spindle n.

It will therefore be understood that the slidin g rodsW operate two vertical spindles, which elevate. or lower the cam-spindles and open and close the jaws Q while the turn-table is at rest.

Having thus described the parts of the delivering mechanism in detail, will now de- A button-hook having been delivered by the vertical-acting nippers O to the horizontal nippers Q, the nippers 0 immediately retire.

The turnlt-able revolves one-sixth of a revolution by means of the ratchet-lever and cam 4. on the main shaft. Prior to the commencement of this movement the vertical cams T, in the rear of the nippers just fed, fall to their lowest point, and by that action permit the jaws to close upon the button-hook with the full force of the spring. The hook is thus firmly held until, by the intermittent movement of the turn-table, the jaws thus charged arrive at the point in front, where the forcing, turning, and clinching is performed, more-fully hereafter tobe described.

After being clinched the vertical wedge-cams are elevated by means of the'lifting-spindle'V and sliding rod W to'a point from which, as the table next revolves, the lower end of the wedge-cam spindle can be delivered to the upper bearing-surface of the holdingbloclr U.

By this elevation of the wedge-cams T the jaws of the nippers are opened and the buttonhook released.

As the table continues to revolve, the holding-block U sustains the cams T until the nippers Q, with jaws wide open, arrive at a point nearly opposite the holding-nippers 0, when the cam-spindle n is transferred to the top of the rear spindle V, which, by the action of the 'rear sliding rod, \V, is permitted to fall when the jaws have received another hook, after which the operation is repeated, as before.

I will now proceed to explain the forcing, turning, and clinching mechanism.

X is a standard rising from the bed of the machine. Y is a beam-lever, with its fulcrum at top of standard X. It is attached at its front end by a connecting-link to a plunger, y, for operating the dies. This lever is actuated by a triple-arm cam, No. 9, on the main shaft, with which it engages through the medium of a vertical connectingrrod. (Jam 9 is so set and arranged that, during about one-half a revolution of the main shaft, three separate and distinct vertical movements are given to the plunger y,'which is permitted to remain at rest during-the remainder of the revolution.

Z is a die-drum, mounted upon and keyed to a suspended vertical shaft at the front of the standard X, and sustained thereon by collar-bearings. In this drum are two sets of vertical dies. Each set is marked, respectively, Nos..1, 2, and 3. They are arranged so that, as the drum revolves, each will rest for a while on a vertical line with the plunger y,

and also with the jaws of nippers Q while they are at rest.

Die No. 1 has in its lower end or race three cavities, corresponding with the prongs of the button-hook. Die No. 2 has'a concave eircu lar recess, the diameter of which is slightly greater than, the distance between the prongs of the button-hook. Die No. 3 has a plain smooth face. These dies are each set within a recess in the drum, and embraced with a spiral spring, which sustains its weight.

When in operative position, one of the dies, the plunger y, and jaws of nippers Q are on a true vertical line. i To prevent any rotary movement in'die'Nol it is grooved and splined to the drum Z. I

At the upper end of the shaft to which diedrum Z is keyed is a. circular stop-block attached to the shaft. r Its edge is provided with vertical V-shaped recesses or notches, with which a corresponding projection on the inner side of plunger y engages as it descends.

These notches are on a vertical line with the dies 1, 2, and 3. The upper edges of the re- .cesses are slightlybeveled, so as to secure proper relation between them and the plunger,

and also between the lower end of the plun ger and the upper ends of the dies.

The drum Z is revolved with three prompt intermittent movements for one-half of a revolution, followed by a rest.

Motion is eommunieated'to this drum by means of the cam 210.10 on the main shaft, the lever q, and a slide provided with' a pawl,

which engages with a ratchet upon the lowercdge of the drum.

The cam 10 is substantially the same as cam 9. Their form and effect are the same; but they are so set on the shaft that the action of the arms on cam 10 slightlyprecedes the action of thoseon cam 9. I 1

Each movement of the drum Z is equal to the distance between the centers of th dies 1, 2, and 3.

Having thus described the forcing, turning, and clinching mechanism in detail, I will proceed to describe its mode of operation.

The button-hook, with its prongs vertical, having been presented by the nippers Q at a point beneath the die No. 1, the fabric to which the hook is to be attached is placed upon the prongs. Die No. 1 then descends and forces the prongs through the fabric into therecesses in the face of the die already described. Upon being relieved from the pressure of the plunger 3 the die ascends. The drum then revolves one-sixth, and presents die N0. 2, which, with its concave recess, turns the ends of the prongs inward, and partially clinches them, after which, opera-ted in the same manner, die No.

I .iis presented with its smooth fiat face, and completes the clinching. Immediately after the nipper Q opens its jaw, and releases the head of the hook from its grasp. The turntable then moves up with another hook, andthe operation is repeated. The beam-lever Y and separator C accomplish their return more nicnts by their own specific gravity. All other return movements in the machine are accomplished by spring motions, although inever'y case positive motions are fully practicable.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Iatent-- 1. In combination with the hopper of an automatic button hook set-tin g machine, the

separator 6, provided with an. inclined edge,

the inclined chute composed of bottom rail, J, andside rail,K, and the swinging assorter G, operating substantially as described, for separating the hooks from a mass in the hopper and presenting the same with prongs upright to the conveying mechanism. I

2. In combination with the separating mechanism of an automatic-button-hook-setting machine, the railway M, endless belt L, with fingers h, steadying-arm N, and presenting-nippers 0 by means of which the buttonhooks are taken from the chute of the separating mechanism, conveyed, and delivered to the holding-nip-pers Q, substantially as dc scribed. a

In combination with the series of forcing, turnin and clinching dies Nos. 1, 2, and 3, the series of holding-nippers Q, so arranged as to receive and present a button-hook to the alternate action of the dies, substantially as shown and described.

4. The combination of the railway M with the endless belt L, provided with fingers 11, substantially as shown and described.

5. The improved bntton-hook-setting ma chine herein described, consisting, essentially, of the four distinct and separate organisms or series of mechanism, as follows: first, the

separating mechanism second, the conveying and delivering mechanism; third, the presentin g mechanism; and, fourth, the forcing, turn in g, and clinching mechanism, arranged to operate in conjunction with each other, for the several and final purposes specified.

HORACE O. BRADFORD.

Witnesses: V

HENRY MARTIN,

Amos .1). MUMFoRn. 

